OPTIMAL MIND (120 Caps)

Optimal Mind NOOTROPIC blend is the first of its kind in the UK, with the help of specialists we have harnessed the power of Ayurvedic & Chinese medicine and combined it with modern science, the result is a power house of cognitive enhancement that will not only optimise your mind but will also help modulate your immune and energy systems.

Further Information

Optimal Mind is the result of years of research; we went as far as to study Soviet Military research from the war in Afghanistan to inspire and balance the new Focus Optimal range. No short cuts have been taken and this is what sets Optimal Mind and Optimal Sport above other adaptogenic products on the UK market.

The Focus Optimal Range is different because we have worked with leading researchers in this field to ensure every ingredient compliments the next and the dose of each is where it should be to enhance the potency and efficacy of the adaptogenic blends Optimal Mind and Optimal Sport.

Immune Support and Hormone Modulation

Adaptogenic Plants, Mushrooms and Herbs are truly a wonder of nature, rather than boosting hormones and bodily systems out of control they work in synergy with the body balancing out any abnormalities such as a compromised immune system or low testosterone, they will help fight auto immune responses and ensure your body is running at 100% all of the time. They have been shown to boost your natural killer cells by up to 300% (these killers cells fight infections, viruses and tumours within the body; they are our immune systems super hero’s!!!). Adaptogens also help lower stress hormones and promote homeostasis within all of our systems.

All of the above ads up to a bullet proof, healthy, cognitively enhanced version of you with boundless drive and energy to conquer your goals and live a vibrant meaningful life.

How Do Nootropics Work?

Everyone knows that protein and other dietary supplements can improve our physical strength and well being. But are there substances that can upgrade our brains? during the past few years more and more people have been discovering the efficacy of nootropics for enhancing their mental health and cognitive abilities. If you’re currently using nootropics or thinking about taking them to enhance your mental performance, it’s necessary to know how they work.

In short, nootropics are essentially brain supplements. They are compounds that have been shown to augment cognitive skills such as memory, focus, motivation, imagination, and learning. Nootropics are becoming increasingly popular with entrepreneurs and athletes and have been the supplements of choice for the incredibly innovative men and women of Silicon Valley.

There are many different types of nootropics available and, as stands to reason, they all work in slightly different ways. So there really is no one single answer to the question “How do nootropics work?”. That being said, there are some general ways that nootropics influence and interact with different chemicals and systems of the human brain.

Nootropics and the Neurotransmitters

To understand how nootropic work we need to acquaint ourselves with some aspects of the human brain. The brain is often referred to in terms of systems and nootropics tend to affect the serotonin, dopamine, cholinergic, and glutamatergic systems. Brain systems are made up of neurotransmitters and synaptic receptors. Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain that transmit nerve signals between neurons and can either be excitatory or inhibitory. Excitatory neurotransmitters augment an impulse while inhibitory neurotransmitters prevent the signal from being received. The neurotransmitters and their synaptic receptors are the key components of a brain system.

Dopamine and Serotonin

Nootropics target and augment the brain systems that influence cognitive function. Dopamine and serotonin are often referred to as the “feel good” neurotransmitters because they are associated with feelings of pleasure and wellbeing. Nootropics do not specifically target these systems nor do they increase the level of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. This is actually a very good thing. Substances that affect and augment dopamine tend to be very addictive. Pharmaceuticals like Adderall and Ritalin directly increase levels of dopamine and people often become physically dependent on these drugs. Nootropics, on the other hand, indirectly affect the serotonin dopamine systems resulting in subtle yet profound mood boosting effects.

Glutamate

Glutamate is a powerful and plentiful neurotransmitter in the human brain that is also responsible for affecting mood. Glutamate is converted into GABA which has a positive influence on mood and feelings of wellbeing. Nootropics exert a level of influence over glutamate receptor sites in that they increase their sensitivity. This is very important. Nootropics do not increase levels of glutamate as such an increase is unnecessary and potentially dangerous. Nootropics increase receptor uptake so you can better make use of the glutamate that is already available. Improved glutamate uptake is linked to increased memory and focus.

Acetylcholine and Racetams

Acetylcholine is another important neurotransmitter associated with cognitive abilities like learning, focus, memory, and decision-making. Choline is the precursor to this important neurotransmitter and is found in high amounts in foods such as eggs, liver, and meat. However, it is well documented that most people are deficient in choline. As such, it makes sense to use a high quality supplement to increase your choline level. But merely increasing the level of available choline is often not enough to experience improvements in cognitive functioning. For this reason, it is wise to use a class of nootropics called Racetams. Racetams are acetylcholine agonists meaning they increase synaptic receptor sensitivity. When combined, Racetams and increased acetylcholine work synergistically and produce increased efficiency in mental functions like learning, focus, and motivation. With these two substances working together, people report being able to understand new concepts quicker and retain the newly learned information easier.

Nootropics enhance our cognitive abilities by affecting neurotransmitters, synaptic receptors, and their associated brain systems. Many nootropics are designed to affect the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, and acetylcholine and/or their synaptic receptors in order to augment cognitive skills such as learning, memory, creativity, imagination, motivation, and mood. Similar to how dietary supplements improve our physical capabilities, nootropics can be thought of as brain supplements designed to upgrade our cognitive skills. Many pharmaceutical drugs can be addictive and come bundled with a host of damaging side effects while nootropics appear to be safe based on numerous personal accounts from entrepreneurs and athletes. With the stresses of modern life we can all use a subtle cognitive boost. And when it comes to our mental abilities, a subtle shift can be life-changing.

Are Nootropics Effective?

Here’s the short answer: Yes. But this question is a bit like asking “Is food healthy?”. Sure there are foods that are healthy but then there are also foods like deep-fried sugar cookies that most certainly are not. So, like most things in life, it’s necessary to do dig a little bit deeper to find the truth.

The term nootropic is simply too broad and encompasses too many specific compounds to be talked about in such general terms. Are there a few nootropics that may not be effective? I’d wager a fair sum of money on it. Are there other nootropic compounds that amplify your ability to get and stay motivated, pay attention, and think clearly? Absolutely.

Scientific studies demonstrate the effectiveness of nootropics and an ever increasing amount of testimonials from athletes, artists, businessmen, and entrepreneurs provide further support for their benefits.

What are the effects?

Expectations must also be addressed. Some people become interested in nootropics because they are operating under the false belief that these substances are the real-world equivalent to NZT-48. If that last sentence makes no sense to you, NZT-48 is the drug from the movie Limitless that made Bradley Cooper’s character a super genius millionaire playboy. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’re going to be disappointed. But for those with more down to earth aspirations, specific nootropics will prove very effectual.

Nootropics aren’t mythical mindblowing super drugs. They’re designed to produce subtle yet profound effects. And subtle effects are very often the all the difference in the world between failure and success.

Not all nootropics are created equal

That being said, not all nootropics are created equal and it’s worth talking about the ones we know are truly effective. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re currently ingesting a nootropic containing hot cup of delicious coffee almost every day. What’s that? Coffee is a nootropic? Well not exactly coffee but the caffeine definitely is. Caffeine has been extensively studied it is generally said to be quite healthy and it provides a whole host of benefits.

Of course, we still need to pay attention to the dosage. I don’t think anyone would recommend 12 cups of coffee on a daily basis. But the effectiveness of this nootropic cannot be denied. Everyone knows the focused feeling they get after a good cup of java.

Another effective nootropic that gains in popularity every day is a substance called l-theanine. l-theanine is naturally occurring and is found in a variety of plants. In all likelihood, your body is already familiar with this nootropic. You know that calm feeling you get when you enjoy a warm cup of green tea? You can thank l-theanine for that relaxing sensation.

Obviously, one cup of green tea does not contain a high level but the fact that you can feel the effects with essentially a trace amount demonstrates its power. L-theanine seems to work synergistically with caffeine. This makes sense considering both are found in green tea. An analysis of 11 studies was published in Nutrition Review and concluded that, when combined, l-theanine and caffeine enhance cognitive abilities such as attention, task switching, and alertness.

Many athletes and entrepreneurs are adding l-theanine to their morning coffee and reporting these exact effects.

Another powerful and effective nootropic is choline. Some may say that modafinil is the most powerful but modafinil is illegal in many countries and often requires a prescription. Choline, on the other hand, is naturally occurring and can be found in many foods.

Unfortunately, the majority of us do not get adequate choline through the modern diet. Some sources state that up to 90 percent of the population is deficient in this most important substance. Choline is the precursor to acetylcholine which is a neurotransmitter responsible for mental clarity and memory. Increasing choline levels leads to improved attention, focus, and recall.

Many people also report enhanced verbal articulation and logical thinking as a result of choline supplementation. Choline is also known as a nootropic potentiator. This means it strengthens the effectiveness of other nootropics.

Conclusion

We’re still learning and studying how nootropics improve cognition. Without a doubt some are more effective than others. There’s plenty of science supporting the effectiveness of nootropics and you can read thousands of positive testimonials where people describe their personal experiences with these amazing substances. But the only way to really know just how effective nootropics can be for you is to give them a try for yourself.

With a little patience and experimentation, you’ll likely find yourself less anxious and more focused with improved learning capacity and other cognitive capabilities.